Gilchrist mourns loss of a cult hero

HEARTBROKEN cricket great Adam Gilchrist has described Andrew Symonds as “the heart and soul of any team I ever played in”.

And only months after Shane Warne’s death, the spinner’s three children have posted heartfelt messages honouring Symonds.

Warne, who died of a heart attack in March, played alongside Symonds in Australia’s Test team from 2004-07.

Brooke Warne wrote on Instagram that the allrounder was “the best date I ever had” under an image of her dad’s Test teammate in a suit with her as a young girl.

Gilchrist spoke bravely about the rare qualities of a “box office” cricketer who became a cult hero in the 2000s.

“He’s just the most loyal, fun bloke, that would just do anything for you,” he said.

“To use the term you’d go to war with him, you just would. He was just one of the real good guys.

“And what a talent. Just box office.

“He was a cult hero but also the heart and soul of the team. He was all of it.”

Former captain Ricky Ponting backed the X-factor all-rounder when others wanted him out of the Test team.

“If ‘Roy’ shook your hand, you had his word, that’s the sort of bloke he was and that’s why I always wanted him on my team,” Ponting tweeted.

“An extraordinary player and even better human being.”

Michael Clarke took to Instagram with only one word – “devastated”.

Clarke posted a broken heart emoji over a photo of him and Symonds carrying Warne after the 2006-07 Ashes series.